As summer approaches, it’s important you keep your dog’s safety in mind since the hot weather can leave them vulnerable to illnesses and injuries like foot pad burns, sunburn and worse; heat stroke.
Heat stroke is a seriously dangerous condition your dog can end up with which can cause seizures, hemorrhages, brain damage, blindness, organ failure and even death. We all know how dangerous it is to leave your dog (or any pet) in a closed up car on a hot day, but your dog can suffer heat stroke even when you have them outside on a hot summer day. Therefore, it’s important you know the signs of heatstroke in your dog and ways to prevent it.
Signs of Heatstroke in your Dog
Heatstroke happens when your dog’s body temperature is elevated to a dangerous level. Even though this usually happens in the summer months when you leave the dog in a hot car, it can also happen during the first few weeks of summer when your dog is exposed to higher temperatures in which they haven’t become acclimated to. Knowing the signs of heat stroke in your dog can help you take immediate action. Signs include:
- A raised body temperature that can reach up to 110 degrees F
- Panting heavily
- Excessive thirst
- Dark or bright red tongue and gums
- Rapid heartbeat or pulse
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Excessive drooling
- Glazed eyes
- Unconsciousness
- Lethargy
- Bloody diarrhea
The good news is there are ways you can prevent heat stroke in your beloved pet.
Preventing Heat Stroke in Dogs
Here are a few ways you can protect your dog from heat stroke.
Water
Make sure your dog always has access to plenty of drinking water. If you have your dog outside, be sure they have a shady place they can go to. Gently hose your dog down every so often with cool water or encourage them to play in the sprinkler to prevent overheating.
Walks
Take your dog for walks during the coolest time of each day. During the summer, daytime temperatures are the coolest at dusk and dawn. You can take your dog for a walk right after sunrise or right before it sets to keep them cool.
Hair
You can help prevent your dog from overheating by giving them a lightweight haircut in the summer. However, don’t completely shave their hair to their skin since they can easily get sunburned. Leave at least an inch of hair to protect them from sunburn.
In addition to protecting your dog from heat stroke and other ailments, you should also protect yourself as well against the huge vet bills that come along with a sick dog. You can do this by getting pet care insurance, which is very important and will help cover the costs related to heat stroke or other health issues with your dog.
To compare pet insurance quotes, complete our online form for multiple insurance quotes.
